Our Response to COVID-19

May 7, 2020 Update

Over the past month and a half, our church has been unable to publicly assemble due to the COVID-19 crisis and our government’s response to containing this threat. Within the past few weeks, the government has loosened its restrictions for our area and, Lord willing, we will be able to meet once again on May 10th for our 10:30 AM worship service. We are overjoyed that we can once again assemble as God’s people, but due to an abundance of caution, we will currently restrict ourselves to a single, morning worship on Sunday AM moving forward. As time progresses, and we are able to assess the spread of the virus in the coming weeks, we will begin to participate in more opportunities together.

At the same time, we would like to offer more opportunities for fellowship to those interested, so we would like to organize small groups–not more than about 10–for Sunday evening worship for those who are interested. If you desire to host a small group in your home, please get with the office about details and they will help you with the organization.

With that in mind, the following will be an outline of our policies moving forward as we come to meet together again. In order to ensure the safety of our church, while at the same time being able to worship together, we ask that you adhere to these policies to the best of your ability.

Any Member that is not feeling well, MUST stay home. If you have been sick within the past 24 hours we ask that you stay home as well.

Only our main doors will be opened for accessing the building.

When you enter the building, you will grab a prepackaged communion set for the Lord’s Supper and head directly to your pew.

Every other pew will be marked with blue tape, those marked with blue tape ARE available for seating. We ask that you sit in an empty pew at first. If the empty pews are filled, we will direct you to one where you can sit 6 feet from the other family unit on the pew.

There will be no gathering in the foyer or other areas to fellowship at this time.

Hand sanitizer will be placed at the entrance of the auditorium and all members are required to use before entering.

All songs will be projected as usual and we ask that you not use the books in the back of the pew unless absolutely necessary.

We request, at the current time, that our members who are 65 and older remain at home and watch our live stream of the service (which will still be available on YouTube).

If we have members in the previously mentioned age group who would like to attend, we have a spot reserved specifically for you in the back right corner of the auditorium (from the pulpit’s perspective).

For our 65 and older, there will be no valet parking in order to prevent the spread of the virus. If you have a family member that can drop you off that would be the best option.

Masks are not required but if you have them, please feel free to wear them. If you go to the restroom, we highly recommend that you wear one while in close proximity.

As previously mentioned, we will have communion prepped and ready, which will be sitting on a cart when you enter the building. As you pass, you will grab a set and head to your pew where we ask that you remain until worship is over.

There will be two contribution plates on the table at the back where members can drop their contribution, if they desire, as they are leaving. It will be collected at the end.

THERE WILL BE NO HUGGING OR HANDSHAKING. We realize this will be difficult since we haven’t seen each other in awhile, but we ask that you please help us in this manner to reduce physical contact.

When the service ends, each section will be dismissed by the speaker at the front. When exiting, please remember to keep social distance, and to not gather in the foyer.

We will be sanitizing the building prior to and after our worship together.

While we look forward to the day that we no longer have to implement such practices (and hopefully that will come soon) we ask that you help us in our endeavor to keep our church family, and our community, safe from this virus. Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to being together again this next Sunday!

In His Service,The Elders

April 30, 2020 Update

Brethren,

Using the Minimum Standard Health Protocols provided by the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Governor for Church Assembly/Worship, we will be able to once again assemble as a congregation of the Lord’s body at the Dripping Springs church of Christ beginning Sunday, May 10th. There will be some differences in the way that we usually assemble. The details about those differences will follow in future emails from the church office.

It is our desire to once again meet as brethren to worship our Lord. These past months of Internet worship have been beneficial; however, nothing can replace assembling with the Saints. Thank you all so much for your patience and understanding as we have struggled to make good decisions about balancing our health and safety with obeying God’s will.

Our goal is to be able to return to normal worship as we had in the past. However, there will be some new restrictions as we follow the State of Texas Minimum Standard Health Protocols. We strongly encourage the at-risk population of our members to continue participating in our online services. The at-risk population according to State guidelines are those who are 65 or older, especially those with chronic lung disease; moderate to severe asthma; chronic heart disease; severe obesity; diabetes; chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; liver disease, or weakened immune system.

We look forward to seeing everyone and worshiping together in the coming months.

In His Service,
The Elders of the Dripping Springs church of Christ

March 24, 2020 Update

To our church family,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. We hope this letter finds everyone well—healthy in mind, body, and spirit. We pray that you will take a moment to read this letter as it pertains to our worship as a congregation in response to the recent spread of the coronavirus in our country and county.

This week brought increasing changes and restrictions regarding mass gatherings in our county. As of March 20, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra ordered that no private or public assemblies greater than 10 will be allowed until April 3rd (unless otherwise noted). This restriction is being enforced by Hays County Law enforcement agencies. This is in response to the declarations of local and state disasters within Texas due to the coronavirus. Six cases have been reported in Hays county and more are expected in the coming weeks. We ask that you pray for the victims of this virus, as well as our government officials as they make decisions for our area.

Based on this most recent order, the elders at Dripping Springs have decided that the most prudent decision is to abide by this order and suspend any weekly worship meetings until April 3rd. After this time, the elders will reassess the situation to and inform the congregation about our decision moving forward. We don’t make this decision lightly, and only do so knowing that—while we believe our weekly assembly is invaluable—it is not the sum total of the church. The church experienced the same struggle during the Spanish Flu of 1918 and, in accordance with local law, stopped meeting for a period of time. The early church met with small groups in their homes (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19) and remained faithful and steadfast—we are confident that the church at Dripping Springs will do the same.

With that being said, here are some important guidelines for the coming weeks:

YouTube Live Link for Sunday Worship: We will be sending out an email with a link to our YouTube channel. This link will be accessible to anyone with a phone, tablet, or computer, regardless of whether or not they have a YouTube account. At our normal 10:30 AM and 6pm, you will simply click on the link and it will pull up a live stream where you can watch Jacob present the lessons for the week. If you’re on Facebook you will be able to access the lessons live at the same time on our church Facebook page. The elders encourage our members to attend these sessions if at all possible, in order to ensure your spiritual health during this critical time.

Online Contribution. Although we are not meeting, the work of the Lord continues in Dripping Springs. Because of this, we ask that you still plan to contribute to the work here by either 1) Laying by in store and giving to the church what you have saved when we return to our public assembly 2) Mail your contribution to the church mailing address 3) Contribute online through this link: https://dschurchofchrist.com/give-online/

Fellowship and Communion: Since the order only prohibits meetings of more than 10, we encourage you to meet with other Christians in your area if possible/comfortable. Continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene but, if possible, we would encourage this. The building will be open throughout the week if you need anything. If you want to be a part of a small group, but don’t know who to meet with, please contact Jacob and he will organize one for you. If not, and it is only your family, then simply worship as a family. As far as communion is concerned, we will have bags of communion bread prepared for those who desire it this coming Saturday the 21st after 12pm. Please come by and pick some up so that you can partake with your family members or fellow Christians. We are asking that you purchase the grape juice on your own as the distribution of such will be more difficult.

We realize that such times are unprecedented within recent memory. These are difficult times for many. At the same time, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:17). More than ever, as the shepherds of this church, we exhort you to place your mind on heavenly things (Col. 3:1). Remember the blessed hope we have in Jesus of an inheritance and a body that is untouched by sickness (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Praise be to our Lord!

We also know that many of you might have questions or may simply need to talk. As your elders, we are here for you. Please feel free to call us, Jacob, or Parker. We love you all and want to facilitate this difficult transition the best way that we can. The elders, deacons, and preachers will be working together in the coming weeks to check in on all of our members. We also ask that you keep an eye on your email and our Facebook page in the coming weeks, as there may be new, pertinent information of which you need to be aware. We are praying for you all and ask that you pray for us as well.

In His Grace,

The Elders

Updated March 18, 2020

All services for the week of March 22nd will be suspended at the DrippingSprings Church of Christ. This includes morning worship.

We encourage you to worship with your family or with a few Christians in your home if all are feeling well and you are comfortable with this. This is in response to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. If you are wanting communion supplies, please stop by the building after 12pm this Saturday to grab some communion bread. You will need to provide the grape juice on your own. We will be emailing a YouTube Live link where you can access Jacob’s sermon this Sunday. Please keep an eye on your email as the elders are meeting to discuss how to move forward in the coming weeks.

We have set up online giving to facilitate our contribution by going to this URL: https://dschurchofchrist.com/give-online/ ;
Or you can mail your contribution to the church office: PO Box 1 DrippingSprings, TX 78620.